Michael Bay May Return for 'Transformers 4': Report

Proving that even passion projects for high-grossing directors cost a pound of flesh, Vulture reports that Michael Bay may come back for a fourth 'Transformers' film -- provided the studio lets him make 'Pain and Gain.' "Without 'Pain & Gain,' there's not tit for tat," said a source to Vulture. "That's Paramount's leverage."

Bay has been looking to make 'Pain and Gain,' based on a series of articles in the Miami New Times, since 1999. (The film -- described as 'Fargo'-esque -- follows two bodybuilders who wind up embroiled in a kidnapping and extortion plot to increasingly terrible results.)

Per Vulture, if the deals for 'Pain and Gain' and 'Transformers 4' are reached, things could move very quickly; 'Gain' could shoot in the spring, with 'Transformers' headed to cameras by winter of 2012. While nothing is official yet, apparently Bay and the studio are "not far" from an agreement.

During the press for 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon,' it was thought that Bay was done with the series (Shia LaBeouf, who is done with the franchise, said as much), but it appears that isn't the case. What plot 'Transformers 4' will use remains to be seen, but it likely won't be a prequel.